(Period 6: AD 200-300).
Discover the Keston Roman Villa, an archaeological site of significant historical depth, located in Kent. The site includes detailed excavations of the villa’s structure and its surrounding areas, dating back to between AD 200 and 300. These findings give us a glimpse into the layout of the villa complex and its adjacent tombs during its peak.
Insights into the Villa’s Past
For an in-depth look at the villa’s rich history and archaeological findings, consider exploring the following comprehensive reports:
Publications on the Keston Roman Villa
- First Report (Excavations 1968-1978): This volume, spearheaded by scholars Brian Philp, Keith Parfitt, John Willson, Mike Dutto, and Wendy Williams, provides an extensive overview of the excavation efforts that unveiled substantial parts of the villa, including two major masonry buildings, a secondary residence, and a grand aisled barn. The area also revealed enclosures, fenced areas, a quarry, storage solutions, and pathways dating from the 1st to the 4th century AD, with underlying Iron Age structures and a later Saxon hut. Published in 1991, this report is crucial for understanding the earliest phases of the site.
- ISBN: 094783107X
- ISSN: 01412264
- Publisher: Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, The Roman Painted House, Dover
- Second Report (Excavations 1967 and 1978-1990): Authored by Brian Philp, Keith Parfitt, John Willson, and Wendy Williams, this second volume, published in 1999, completes the narrative of the villa’s excavation. It elaborates on the main villa-house, the early farmstead structures, and more discoveries from the Iron Age period. This report also details the villa cemetery with its significant mausolea and burials, and discusses Roman ritual shafts, including one containing over 40 animal skeletons.
- ISBN: 0947831088
- ISSN: 01412264
- Publisher: Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, The Roman Painted House, Dover
These reports offer a treasure trove of information, with numerous plans, sections, photographs, and detailed drawings of artifacts spanning several historical periods. Each publication provides a comprehensive account of the discoveries and serves as a crucial resource for those interested in the archaeology of London, Kent, Sussex, and Surrey regions.